The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has conferred Honourary Fellowship of NIPR on Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of Service of the Federation, HOCSF, for her contributions to the institution.
The NIPR award ceremony was part of the activities to commemorate the institution`s 2024 World Public Relations Day on Tuesday, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Sen. Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the occasion, commended Yemi-Esan for the numerous roles she had played for both the institute and in the service to the nation.
“I just want to thank Head of Service, you`ve done well for us. Today, we members of the NIPR are proud of being among the cadre of civil service in Nigeria.
“The same way we have procurement officers in the service, today we have Public Relations Officers in the Ministries, Department Agencies,“ Mr Izunaso said.
He said involving NIPR qualifiers to manage information in public institutions was essential, owning to the training they had received from the professionals at the institute.
“The reason is that, a lot of people who are managing at level of MDAs are not well trained in the heart of information management. ”
In his contributions, Otunba Olufemi Oyawale, Keynote Speaker, said the introduction of NIPR professionals into the system was a welcome development in government’s offices.
Mr Oyawale added that a NIPR service was essential as it would ensure peaceful governance in the system.
“Public information is international initiative, planned and continuous endeavour of government to build up and maintain mutual understanding and confidence to bring about adjustment and integration at home and acceptance abroad,’’ he explained.
Earlier in his remarks Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, Vice President NIPR, said the institute was established by law in 1963 and chartered in 1990.
He added by law covering it, it made it mandatory that people must practice public relations services within the confine of the federal Republic of Nigeria in any capacity covered by what is regarded as public relation functions.
Responding, Mrs Yemi-Esan, expressed delight to the management of the NIPR for the roles in managing public information, saying that it underscored the importance of information, image management within the sphere of cooperate governance at all levels.
“In the course of my public service career, I have been able to appreciate very laudable and important interventions of government at various levels of implementation.
“However, one recurring factor that waters down the feasibility of public appreciation of what is being done is the failure to effectively tell the story,’’ she said.
She, nevertheless, said that government was working to ensure that it achieve effective communication within its system.
“This is why the practice of public relations should never the profession of all sort but should remain professional and guided by contemporary ethics,’’ she said.
The event themed `The future of public relations in a changing world: Journey in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service’’.
The award of `Excellence in professional service` was also conferred on Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, who is the Chairman, United Nigeria Airways.
NAN
